Nintendo DSi XL

Larger screens are easier to see. Side-angle viewing is much-improved and makes for better group gameplay. Louder, clearer sound. Pen-size stylus is bundled.

Cons
Not as pocketable as the DSi. Screen size has increased from the DSi, but resolution remains the same. Low-resolutions cameras have not been upgraded from the DSi. Comes in two odd colors.

Bottom Line

Larger, but otherwise very similar to the DSi, the Nintendo DSi XL is a great choice if you're getting your first portable Nintendo device, especially to share among family members. The larger screens alone, though, don't provide enough incentive for Nintendo DSi users to upgrade.

Apart from its larger size and bigger screens, Nintendo's newest handheld gaming device, the DSi XL ($189.99 list) isn't all that different from its smaller sibling, the DSi ($169.99, ). In fact, it's almost identical. If you're looking to get into Nintendo's portable gaming game, it's your best choice, but given its many similarities to the DSi, it's a bit of a tough sell as an upgrade for current DSi users.

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Plus-Size Portable Gaming
The DSi XL currently comes in two rather, well, not-so-great color choices: Burgundy and Bronze. (Nintendo: Were you going for the 1970's refrigerator look? New colors, please!) Also, the texture of the body of the device is now glossy and thus easily smudged, though the inner surfaces remain matte.

Weird colors aside, this is the best DS for people to share. Nintendo is marketing the DSi as a social device. It's clearly designed with families in mind, not just single gamers. With greater screen surface area and the pen stylus (which is included, for the first time, in addition to the typical stylus that slots into the device), parents and even grandparents can easily see and manipulate the two touch screens.

The larger size does have its cons, however, the main one drawback is that the XL is not as portable as the more compact DSi. It's not a brick by any means, but not many pants pockets will accommodate the 6.4-by-3.6-by-0.8-inch (HWD) device, and at a little over 11 ounces, it's 20 percent more hefty than the 7.5-ounce DSi. On the plus side, the DSi XL's corners are rounder, making it easier to hold comfortably for long playing sessions.

To justify the increase in size, the DSi XL's two 4.2-inch screens have almost twice as much display real estate as the DSi's 3.3-inch dual screens. And you also get a much-improved side-angle view, so more than one player can see what's going on. This works particularly well with new titles such as WarioWare: D.I.Y., and America's Test Kitchen: Let's Get Cooking, which can be played collaboratively.

Screen size has increased 93 percent on the DSi XL's screens, but resolution remains the same192 by 256 pixels, which are spread over a 4.2-inch screen, rather than a 3.3-inch one. Games that already look a bit blocky on the earlier device look very pixelated on the XL. Hopefully, going forward, game designers will take this into account.

Another feature that's been enlarged: the two internal speakers, with grilles that have seven apertures each, instead of one. Sound is much more powerful on the DSi XL, which again makes for more robust group gaming. Of course, there's still a headphone jack for those times when no one else wants to hear your game.

The two cameras on the DSi XL (on the front and on the inside hinge) are identical to those of the DSi capturing grainy VGA-resolution 0.3-megapixel images. And the XL has the same ports and jacks as the DSi, in the same places, including an SD card slot for storing game data, images, and music; still only unprotected AAC music files are supported. Even the chargers for the two devices are identical. The DSi XL boast a new Lithium Ion battery that Nintendo claims will provide up to 17 hours of gameplay on a single 3-hour charge. (That's up from the 14 hours on a 2.5-hour charge that the company promises with the DSi.)

Games and Gameplay
In the past year, the number of DSi games has increased exponentially; there's no shortage of diverse and interesting titles. The DSi XL comes preloaded with two new Brain Age games, Brain Age Express: Math and Brain Age Express: Arts and Lettersanother point in favor of the "this is the family DSi" theory, as these are titles that appeal pretty much exclusively to adults. Also included is a new app called Photo Clock, that lets you customize a clock display with photos you've taken with the DSi XL. And of course, you can download games from the Nintendo DSi Shop as well as surf the Web, once you've configured the device to connect to your Wi-Fi network. (The DSi XL supports 802.11b and g.)

I played several of my favorite games on both the DSi and the DSi XL. For PopCap's Peggle, for example, the gameplay itself was pretty much identical. The difference: In general, it's just a treat for your eyes to have larger screens. Though I did notice the blocky effect mentioned earlier, my eyes adapted, and it wasn't a hindrancethough I can well imagine it would be in other faster-paced titles. In my tests, the extra size and weight weren't very noticeable during long-term play, and the rounded corners are much easier on your palms.

Should you Supersize?
When it comes to portable gaming, you have a couple of diverse choices. There's Sony's PlayStation Portable line, whose latest device, the PSP go ($249.99, ), is a bit more expensive, but you'll get upgraded graphics and a very different gaming experience than with Nintendo's portable consoles. (You could also go for an older PSP, which would save you some cash.) There's also Apple's iPod touch ($199, ), which provides access to hundreds of downloadable games and also packs an awesome audio and video player. But again, with no real physical controls, it's a different game than with a dedicated portable gaming device.

If you're a Nintendo fan, I wouldn't necessarily recommend upgrading to the Nintendo DSi XL if you have been happily playing on your DSiit just doesn't offer enough of an upgrade. But avid Nintendo fans will at least want to try out a DSi XL, to see the difference the larger screens make. And parents looking for a handheld gaming device the whole family can use, should definitely consider plunking down the $20 extra bucks over the DSi for the DSi XL. After all, if rumors prove true, you'll have to wait a year for Nintendo's next portable gaming system, the 3DS, which will reportedly support 3D games without the use of glasses.

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you instruct us otherwise. Your subscription will automatically renew at the end of the term unless you authorize
cancellation. Each year, you'll receive a notice and you authorize that your credit/debit card will be charged the
annual subscription rate(s). You may cancel at any time during your subscription and receive a full refund on all
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